Pittsburgh Penguins: 5 Guys Who Must Step Up If They Want To Win Without Sid

It really is unbelievable. The Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves three points out of first place in the Eastern Conference without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

They've won four out of their last five games and have surprisingly kept pace with the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals.

Their defense and goaltending has been a major key. Their goal scoring has dropped after Crosby's injury, but they've gotten some support from role players like Tyler Kennedy and Chris Conner.

However, in order to win in the playoffs against tough opponents, the Penguins need certain players who have been quiet recently to really step up.

It's very possible for this team to win the Cup without Crosby. But if they want to do it, they absolutely need the following five players to start lighting up the scoresheet.

Max Talbot

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DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 03: Max Talbot #25 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in on a break in a preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings on October 3, 2010 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 5-2. (Photo by

In the 2009 playoffs, it wasn't all about Crosby and Malkin. Max Talbot was perhaps the reason that pushed the Penguins to the top.

He scored eight goals and five assists in those two months, including two magical goals that clinched the Stanley Cup in Game 7 at Detroit.

This season, he's scored the same amount of goals as he did in those playoffs. If the Penguins want to go deep, they need Talbot to bring back some of the clutch from 2009. He can be the difference between a win and a loss against an elite team.

We know he'll bring his physicality and toughness, but some scoring would help, too, especially without Crosby and Malkin.

No one is asking him to be the offensive leader of the team come April, but if he contributes with some big-time goals in big-time moments, and he has shown that he can do this in previous seasons, the Penguins will receive a huge boost.

Pascal Dupuis

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BOSTON, MA - MARCH 05: Pascal Dupuis #9 of the Pittsburgh Penguins heads up the ice in the second period against the Boston Bruins on March 5, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Before Crosby's absence, Pascal Dupuis had eight goals on the season. Ever since, he's scored three. Last year, Crosby made Dupuis an 18-goal scorer. This year, Super Duper's numbers are back to his career averages.

Pascal has been demoted to the fourth line and although he has a new mustard brand coming out at local Pittsburgh grocery stores, he hasn't been contributing that much.

Sure, Crosby's not there, but Dupuis is a veteran. If guys like Dustin Jeffrey and Chris Conner can work for their goals, he can too.

He has blazing speed and a devastating slap shot. No one is asking him to deke out opponents. Just take shots to the net and try to force rebounds.

Dupuis is all class and he is an unbelievable role model for the young guys in the locker room. But a few goals from him (like the one he scored in overtime last year in Ottawa) will surely assist the Penguins in the playoffs.

James Neal

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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 08: James Neal #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Buffalo Sabres at Consol Energy Center on March 8, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

When the Penguins traded for James Neal a few weeks ago, they were expecting more than a goal and two assists in his first 10 games.

Neal has a mulligan, though. He's in a new town, in a new system and it will take time to adjust. He also hasn't played with Crosby yet.

But none of that matters in the playoffs. Neal gets plenty of power-play time with skilled players like Jordan Staal and Chris Kunitz.

It also seems like during games he tends to pass more than shoot. He needs to get the puck to the net more. You can't score without taking shots!

Neal is a very streaky scorer. When he's hot, he seemingly scores every night. When he's not, he's not a factor for a long time.

Earlier this season when he played for Dallas, almost all of his goals came in bunches. He had a stretch where he had four goals in four games. Another stretch with three goals in two games. Yet another one with nine points in seven games.

Maybe Neal is saving his next bunch of goals for when it matters: in the playoffs. The goal-strapped Penguins desperately hope so.

Alex Kovalev

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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 08: Alexei Kovalev #72 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Buffalo Sabres at Consol Energy Center on March 8, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Like Neal, Alex Kovalev has struggled to put up points on the scoresheet ever since being acquired. He only has two points in nine games.

However, Kovalev has made more of an impact on the team when it comes to puck possession. His smooth skating abilities and his maneuvering around the defense have been a very valuable asset for the Penguins. He hasn't shown up on the score sheet, but he has an "it" quality.

Whatever "it" is, it seems like every time he touches the puck, the game slows down and he sets up a scoring chance. He has set up his teammates very well and had his own opportunities, too, but Kovalev has failed to cash in.

Maybe with a guy like Crosby, he would have 10 points in these nine games. But even without him, Kovy needs to continue what he's doing except instead of not scoring, he needs to do the opposite.

"Almost" doesn't cut it. Kovalev knows this and he needs to keep playing hard. Eventually, the goals will come his way.

Mike Comrie

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BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Mike Comrie #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against of the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena on November 24, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. Pittsburgh won 1-0. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Mike Comrie is skating again, and he's on the road to recovery. He is expected to make a return this season.

If he does, it would be an immense boost for the Penguins if he plays the way he did several years ago, when he racked up 30 goals.

To say Comrie has been a disappointment is an understatement. At least the team is only paying him six figures. The Penguins signed him to be a low risk-high reward player. The high reward has been a remote dream. Even when he was playing, Comrie only had five assists.

No goals.

No one is asking him to replace Crosby, but if he can return in time for the playoffs, would it be to much to ask for to put the puck in the net a few times in the playoffs? He can be a major factor if he gets hot at the right time.

In fact, the Penguins will benefit greatly if only two of these five guys can get hot in the playoffs. Remember, in 2009, Ruslan Fedotenko and Max Talbot were the two guys who were on fire at the right time who helped the Penguins win.

They've been getting good scoring from Dustin Jeffrey, Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy, but they need more than that if they want to beat an elite team in a seven-game series.

Thankfully, their defense, penalty killing, and goaltending has been stellar and has kept the Penguins in seemingly every game. Now if only they can get an extra scoring punch.